July 2020

July 30 - Pass/No Pass request form and information
July 30 - CARES Act Student Emergency Fund
July 22 - Textbook returns, buybacks and purchases
July 16 - Change to Phase II reopening plan
July 13 - Phase II reopening plan
July 10 - Recording of Town Hall meeting

July 30, 2020 - Pass/No Pass request form and information

To address academic concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic for the Spring and Summer semester, we changed our Pass/No Pass policy to allow you to request one or more final letter grades be converted to Pass (P) or No Pass (NP) after receiving your final grade. Therefore, we want to remind you that this option begins on the last day of Summer classes.

All credit courses are eligible for P/NP option, including developmental education courses. However, some health career programs may require letter grades for admission.

The request form is available here, in my Tri-C space (Student tab, under Academic Records) and at tri-c.edu/coronavirus under Student Resources.

Please keep in mind:

• Final grades of C or better convert to a P (Pass). Grades of D or F convert to NP (No Pass). If you receive an Incomplete grade, you must complete the work and receive a final letter grade before submitting a P/NP request.
• P/NP grades may not transfer to a 4-year university. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm transferability to their institution of choice.
• P/NP grades are not calculated into your GPA. However, hours attempted is used to determine your completion rate for financial aid eligibility.
• You have until 11:59 p.m. on October 5 to complete the request form.
• The Pass/No Pass Committee will review all requests. They may contact you to share information about your request or gain additional information.
• Requests will be processed within 10 business days.

Click here for FAQ.


July 30, 2020 - CARES Act Student Emergency Fund

We hope that summer semester is going well and that you’re thinking ahead into fall!

As the next semester quickly approaches, we wanted to share an opportunity to received up to $1500 paid directly to you to be used for emergency expenses including technology (laptops, computer, Wi-Fi, etc.), food, housing, course materials, health care, child care and other education-related expenses.

Your first step is to register for Fall 2020. Register via my Tri-C space. Once registered, we encourage you to apply for CARES Act funds. We can disburse funds directly to your account.

Applying for Tri-C CARES Act funds

1. Students must complete (or have completed) a 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (www.fafsa.gov) and must be Title IV eligible.
2. Contact the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships Office via Live Chat, calling 216-987-6000, or emailing financialaid@tri-c.edu to determine eligibility.
3. All funds will be paid to students via direct deposit or check by mail.

The Student Financial Aid and Scholarships team will review applications daily and notify students via their Tri-C student email account. Please allow 5 business days to process.

Questions?

Contact the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships team:

• Tri-C FA Chat
• Call us at 216-987-6000, Option #2
• Email us at financialaid@tri-c.edu

July 22, 2020 - Textbook returns, buybacks and purchases

We’d like to share a few updates with you regarding Tri-C® campus bookstores.

Summer students: Rental returns

Please ship your rented textbooks back. A link to create a prepaid UPS shipping label has been provided in your rental return email reminders, as well as on the bookstore website. Pack all rental returns in one box. Print your label, affix it to the box and drop your package at any UPS drop box or store.

Summer students: Book buyback

Tri-C campus bookstores will be open for buybacks beginning Monday,  Aug. 10. Hours are as follows:

• Aug. 3–23 – Monday and Thursday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Super Saturdays – Aug. 22 and Aug. 29 - 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Aug. 24 – Sept. 11 – Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Sept. 14 – Dec. 18 – Monday and Thursday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

NOTE: The College is practicing COVID-19 mitigation measures. All campus visitors must wear face coverings and maintain safe distancing, and a limited number of people will be allowed on campus at any given time. Please plan your visit accordingly.

Fall students: Book purchases

Students must purchase fall semester books online through the bookstore website or mobile app. Barnes & Noble is offering free ground shipping on all orders over $49.

We thank you for your patience during this time and look forward to assisting you. For more information, visit the Bookstore FAQ page or call any campus bookstore:
Eastern Campus 216-987-2070
Metropolitan Campus 216-987-3453
Western Campus 216-987-5550
Westshore Campus 216-987-3908


July 16, 2020 - Change to Phase II reopening plan

The following is a change to the information you received last week regarding student services.

After additional discussions and consideration, we have decided to revise the recently announced reopening plan. This will allow us to better accommodate your schedule and need for on-campus services as we move into the fall semester.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 3, the schedule for on-campus student services will shift to Mondays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. This will give you more time to access the services you need, including Enrollment Centers, Financial Aid offices, Technology Learning Centers, bookstores (limited services), and Job Link Services. We will provide additional details regarding plans for fall semester in the coming weeks.

As we navigate these challenging times, the health and well-being of the entire College community is our top priority. We are continuously evaluating information and scenarios to determine the best path forward. This means we must sometimes rapidly alter our course in response to the changing environment.

Thank you for your flexibility and understanding as we adjust plans to meet your needs and keep everyone safe.

July 13, 2020 - Phase II reopening plan

Following consultation with faculty, students and staff — and in alignment with the latest federal, state and local guidance — Tri-C has created its initial Phase II extended opening plan for the Fall 2020 semester. This guidance is current as of today; however, as we all know, the COVID-19 crisis is constantly evolving. We will continue to monitor the changing landscape and respond appropriately, providing additional details as they are confirmed.

Here are some of the important changes going into effect for Phase II.

Beginning Aug. 10:

• On-campus student service areas will operate Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This replaces the current Tuesday/Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. schedule.
• Limited enrollment/financial aid services and computer labs will be available until 6:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. Details are forthcoming.
• On all other days of the week, campuses will be open only for scheduled on-ground or hybrid academic and workforce courses and programs.
• Remote services (phone, chat, email) will remain available to ensure safety and convenience for all members of the College community.

Aug. 24 through Dec. 23:

• Brunswick University Center will open Aug. 24, following same service model and schedule as the campuses.
• Campuses will remain open for in-person student services on Mondays and Thursdays and throughout the week for academic activities.
• Additional in-person student services will become available Aug. 24. These will be announced soon.
• Testing centers will remain closed for placement and academic testing. They will be available by appointment to accommodate Student Accessibility Services participants and provide other services as needed.
• While Fall 2020 session start and end dates remain the same, all on-ground and hybrid classes* will move to fully remote delivery after Thanksgiving (Nov. 30 – Dec. 13). This will help ensure the health and safety of both faculty and students.

*On-site clinicals may continue to meet in person as appropriate.

Additional Phase II Information

• Entry and screening protocols for individuals entering College buildings during Phase II will be finalized soon. These include face coverings/masks for all visitors, students, faculty and staff. Additional information will be shared soon.
• Inventory of classrooms and labs has been performed to determine the College’s capacity for social distancing, and course cap adjustments are being made as appropriate.
• Enhanced cleaning protocols are in place, with necessary plexiglass barriers installed and furniture rearranged to comply with social distancing guidelines in classrooms and social spaces.
• Faculty teaching on-ground courses will have access to supplies needed to clean desks, chairs, instructor stations, technology, etc.
• Outside vendors (e.g., Barnes & Noble, Aramark) are working with Retail Operations to finalize their fall semester service hours.

This is just the start of Collegewide communications regarding Phase II, so be sure to monitor your email, attend upcoming Town Halls and visit tri-c.edu/coronavirus for the most current information.

July 10, 2020 - Recording of Town Hall meeting

Recording of the July 10 President's Virtual Town Hall meeting is below:

Watch the town hall for students here.

Watch your inbox for information on the next town hall meeting.